In the week ending November 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 297,000, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week’s revised level, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 299,000, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week’s revised average.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.89%, down from 3.97% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.10%, down from 3.17%.

Thursday, the Dow slipped 12.52 points (0.07%) to 17,900.10, the NASDAQ was down 5.04 points (0.11%) at 4,769.44, and the S&P 500 decreased 2.41 points (0.12%) to 2,071.92. The Russell 2000 lost 6.00 points (0.51%) to finish at 1,173.01, and the Wilshire 5000 closed 31.88 points (0.15%) lower at 21,733.20.

On the NYSE, 3.2 billion shares changed hands, with 1.7 declining issues for every advancing issue. On the NASDAQ, 2.8 billion shares traded, with a 1.5 to 1 ratio of decliners to advancers.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 12/32, with its yield down to 2.238%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 31/32, decreasing its yield to 2.937%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1776, in Williamsburg, Virginia, at the College of William and Mary the first scholastic fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, was organized. In 1782, Martin Van Buren, America’s 8th president, was born in Kinderhook, New York, to Dutch parents. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. In 1945, the so-called “Lost Squadron” disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle. The five U.S. Navy Avenger bombers carrying 14 Navy flyers began a training mission at the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station. They were never heard from again. In 1951, the first push button-controlled garage opened in Washington, D.C. In 1983, the video arcade game “NFL Football” was unveiled in Chicago. It was the first video arcade game to be licensed by the National Football League.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Newport News, Virginia, a would-be robber entered a 7-Eleven in the early morning hours and demanded cash from the clerk. The clerk opened the cash register drawer and showed the suspect how much money was in the register. According to the Virginian-Pilot, the would-be robber cursed then left.

Near Chicago, Illinois, a 23-year-old man was pulled over by police. During the traffic stop, he called 911 and said he heard eight gu.nshots and that a man had been shot and was lying on the ground a few blocks south of where he was. “Several officers drove to the scene with their emergency lights on,” court records state, according to the Chicago Tribune. When questioned, the man admitted he had phoned in the fake shooting in an attempt to get out of the several traffic tickets he was about to receive. In addition to tickets for illegal transportation of an open alcohol container, speeding, no seat belt, driving without lights and improper lane usage, the man received a felony charge for making the bogus 911 call.

In Houston, Texas, two teenagers approached a motorist with a g.un, intending to take his car. Noticing it was a stick shift, they first asked the person they were car.jacking for instructions about how to drive it. After the driver provided a few instructions, the teens ordered him out of the vehicle, and he called police, according to the local Fox News station. A brief police chase ensued, but an officer for the University of Texas at Houston told the news station the teens “had issues operating the vehicle.” The pair opted to flee on foot and were later apprehended.

In Mayville, Wisconsin, two boys, ages 3 and 6, thought the best way to get in touch with the North Pole was by phone. So, the brothers used their Dad’s cellphone to place a 911 call, asking to be connected with Santa. The Beaver Dam Daily Citizen reports police responded to the home, and officers told the boys it was best to talk with Santa in person.

In Somerset, England, a “Guinness Book of World Records” fan has secured his own place in the book by collecting 353 editions of the book from around the world. According to UPI, Martyn Tovey, 57, said his collection started in 1968 when he won a Book of World Records as a prize at school and he has been receiving annual editions of the book from his mother every Christmas since 1971. Tovey said he’s managed to track down earlier editions and has also added numerous special editions including rare first editions signed by co-founders Norris and Ross McWhirter. The 353 editions earned Tovey the record for Largest Collection of Guinness World Records Annuals, and his 2,164-strong collection of Guinness promotional items earned him a second record for Largest Collection of Guinness World Records Memorabilia. Tovey said his collection includes board games, spoons and engraved glasses.

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